Future US Bike Route 10 (aka North Cascades Highway) reopens

Snow plow crews on the North Cascades Highway completed the six-week-long job of clearing snow from the highway this week, as the state Department of Transportation made its annual spring announcement that traffic is now open on State Route 20.

The state highway department and Washington Bikes is waiting to get the final word on the USBR 10 approval from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at its meeting in Louisville May 28-30.

There’s no doubt why the road is closed every fall for the winter between milepost 134, east of Diablo, and milepost 171, west of Mazama. Snow plow crews had to clear up to 35 feet of snow in some places, along with sand, rocks and fallen trees.